Association Between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Severity and Depression and Anxiety in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and objective Healthcare professionals worldwide often encounter gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). With a rising incidence of anxiety and depression in young adults, it is essential to investigate these psychological aspects as potential risk factors for GERD and its exacerbation. Early screening and treatment of anxiety and depression can aid physicians in achieving better symptomatic control and improving overall quality of life. Hence, this study was carried out to determine the frequency of anxiety and depression in young adults with symptoms of GERD. A cross-sectional study was conducted enrolling patients from the Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital, Islamabad, between January 1, 2023, and June 30, 2023. Methods Patients with gastrointestinal symptoms were enrolled. GERD diagnosis was made using the frequency scale for the symptoms of GERD (FSSG) questionnaire, and anxiety or depression was assessed using General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scales. Possible confounding factors, such as age, gender, BMI, smoking, education, and socioeconomic status, were controlled for through stratification. In our primary analysis, a chi-square test was applied to assess the association of anxiety and depression with GERD. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 21.0 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.) for Windows. Results We obtained data from 210 patients with a mean age of 28.8±6.6 years. Out of these, 122 (58.1%) were female and 88 (41.9%) were male. GERD was found among 133 (63.3%) patients. Furthermore, in this study, the frequency of anxiety and depression was found to be 39 (29.3%) and 99 (74.4%), respectively, out of the individuals diagnosed with GERD. Anxiety and depression were significantly associated with the development of GERD in our population. Conclusion Young adults with GERD should be screened for anxiety and depression, as there is a significant association between these psychological conditions and GERD.